6. Rowan

6

ROWAN

I t takes me a few moments to clear the fog in my brain, but when I finally wake up, I realize my phone is ringing. Groping around in the dim morning light, I find my cell phone and answer the call as I rub the sleep out of my eyes.

“Hi, hun, this is Maggie,” the owner of the diner says.

“Oh. Hi. I… I’m sorry about the window. You can take the money from my paychecks until it’s all paid off.”

“What? Oh, no, sweetie. I’m not calling to blame you for anything. You were a victim of a violent crime, Rowan. That’s not your fault, you know that, right?”

But it is , I want to say. This whole mess is my fault. “Um, so what’s up? Do you need me to come in early today?” I ask, hoping to switch topics. Jett also tried convincing me it’s not my fault, but I’m not sure I believe him, either.

Maggie sighs, and for a moment, I think she might bring the conversation back to the assault. Instead, she decides to move on, which I appreciate.

“The diner is actually going to be closed for a few days while I get some professionals in here to clean up and install a new window. Don’t worry about the money, sugar,” she says. How did she know I was about to offer to pay for everything again? “We have insurance that will take care of the window. I’m just concerned about you. Did your man get you all patched up?”

“Who, Jett? Oh, he’s not… we’re not together or anything. He’s just…” I trail off, not knowing how to describe our relationship.

“Mmhm. You might not be together yet , but that man is already half in love with you, Row.”

“No, that’s ridiculous. He’s just… protective.”

“Uh-huh, sure,” Maggie replies, completely unconvinced. “You just let me know when the wedding is so I can cater it, okay?”

“Maggie!” I gasp, making her laugh.

“Take care of yourself, hun. I’ll let you know when we’re open again.”

We say our goodbyes and I hang up before stretching and letting out a yawn. I’m sore from everything yesterday, but I’ve felt worse. These aches and pains will be gone soon, unlike some of the other times I’ve woken up after a traumatic day.

I swing my legs over the bed and stand, smiling to myself when the shirt I'm wearing falls to just above my knees. Jett gave me a T-shirt and joggers of his to wear to bed. I opted for just the shirt since it's basically a dress on me.

As a big girl, I wasn’t sure how Jett’s clothes would fit. I’m not exactly a tiny pixie woman who looks adorable in anything she puts on. However, when I slipped Jett’s shirt over my head last night, I was surprised and delighted that it was baggy enough to wear as a dress.

Tiptoeing over to the door, I open it slightly and peek my head through, looking up and down the hallway. I dart across the wooden floor to the bathroom so I can freshen up a bit.

Once I’ve washed my face and combed my fingers through my hair enough to tame it down, I decide to head to the kitchen to see what the breakfast situation is like. Maybe I can make Jett something to show him how grateful I am for his help yesterday. I don’t want to overstay my welcome, so I’ll just make breakfast and then be on my way.

My gut sinks at the thought of leaving Jett. Hell, this entire town has felt more like home than any place I’ve lived. Maggie was so sweet to hire me as a waitress even though I had zero experience, and the staff was always kind.

I don’t want to leave, but what choice do I have? My father has made it abundantly clear that I’m no longer safe here. The most loving thing I can do at this point is run to a different town, maybe a city this time, and hide out. At least that will pull my dad’s attention elsewhere and he won’t cause any more damage here.

“There you are,” comes Jett’s voice. It’s still a little rough with sleep, which only makes him that much sexier. “I thought you might sleep in a little more. I haven’t really figured out breakfast yet,” he admits, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck.

I’m speechless, not only because Jett wants to make me breakfast, but also because he’s shirtless. As in… all those muscles on display, the curves and dips of his abs, the ink swirling across his pecs and over his large shoulders…

The Adonis takes a step closer to me from where he’s standing in the kitchen, and my eyes slowly work their way up from his hips to his abs, up, up, up, until I finally meet his gaze.

“Careful with that look, beautiful,” he rasps.

“What look?” I murmur, tipping my head back the closer he gets to maintain eye contact. He’s so tall, so chiseled and massive, yet I know he’d never use his strength to hurt me.

“This one right here,” he whispers, one hand coming up to stroke my cheek. “It has me thinking about all kinds of things.”

“Like what?” My voice is barely audible and I gasp softly when Jett’s other hand wraps around my hips, pulling my body flush against his.

“Like tasting your lips, drinking down your kiss, and running my hands up and down your sexy fucking body until I memorize every curve.”

I’m trembling in his hands, the lust nearly crippling me as it shoots down my spine and lands in my throbbing core. My racing heartbeat is echoed between my thighs, each pulsating beat drawing my muscles up tighter and tighter as I try to hold back whatever is fighting its way to the surface.

Jett slides his hand from my cheek to the back of my neck, weaving my hair through his fingers as he tugs slightly to angle my head.

“Would you like that, angel?” Jett asks, his voice deep, dark, and gravelly.

“Yes, please.”

His lips are on mine in the next second, nipping at my top lip and then my bottom lip before slipping his tongue inside. I gasp at the intrusion, my hands crawling up his bare chest and looping around his neck.

Jett pulls me ever closer, tugging my head up and exposing my neck to his greedy mouth. A soft moan leaves my lips when he licks my skin and then sucks the same spot before covering it with a sweet kiss.

“Fuck,” he breathes out, resting his forehead on mine. I’m struggling for air, but I nod in agreement.

“Best first kiss,” I say, though I instantly regret my words. I feel stupid and childish, standing in front of this man who no doubt has women throwing themselves at him.

Jett tips my chin up with his index finger, his green eyes latching onto mine. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he soothes. “I love that I get to be your first. Honestly, Rowan, it’s been years since I’ve done anything with anyone. I took off from home when I was seventeen and got into the party scene for a while, but then I moved back home to raise my little sister after our dad died. That was twelve years ago and I haven’t been with anyone in at least that long if not longer.”

"Oh my god," I whisper. "I'm so sorry about your dad. That must have been a shock. And then having the responsibility of being a parent on top of everything." Jett wraps his arms around me and hugs me, tucking my head into his chest and resting his chin there. I love it when he holds me like this.

“My dad and your dad would have gotten along,” he says, making my heart ache. “He was an angry, bitter son of a bitch and I wasn’t sad to see him go.” I nod, understanding that feeling. “I thought my half-sister, Fiona, was protected from his wrath by her mom, my step-mom, Agatha. When they both died in a car accident, the police and coroner determined both of them were high on PCP. I’m just thankful Fiona wasn’t in the car with those fuckers.”

"It's incredible that you dropped everything to look after your sister. That was a huge sacrifice," I tell him, meaning every word. It says so much about his character that he gave up the lifestyle he was living and switched to the role of caretaker. No wonder he's so good with me.

“I don’t view it as a sacrifice at all. In fact, Fiona saved me from my dumbass, destructive self by giving me purpose. I’d do it all over again. Actually, if I could, I’d go back in time and take her with me when I moved out. That way, she never would have been subjected to the bullshit they put her through.”

I wrap my arms around Jett, calming him down and reminding him that he’s here with me. This amazing man kisses the top of my head and then buries his nose in my hair, breathing me in. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be right here in this moment with Jett.

“Fiona is going to love you,” he says after a few moments. I lean back, not sure I heard him correctly.

“You want us to meet?”

“Of course. The two most important women in my life should get to know each other.”

“Me?” I squeak out. I can’t even finish the question. I'm in shock. I’m an important person in his life?

“Yes, you,” Jett replies, emerald eyes shining with amusement. “I don’t want to scare you off, I just…” He looks away for a second and then trains his gaze right on me. “You mean so much to me, Rowan. I need you to know that. I will do everything in my power to protect you and lo–”

He cuts himself off, but not before I hear the beginning of what he was about to say. Surely that was just a slip of the tongue.

“I, uh, I mean… I want you to be safe and happy,” he corrects himself.

My stomach chooses this moment to growl embarrassingly loud. “Sorry,” I say before untangling myself from him. I cross my arms over my belly, painfully aware of every single roll.

“I’m hungry, too,” Jett says, not letting me linger too long in my own head about things. “Let’s stop by your place and pick up some things for your stay here and then grab breakfast. I’m… sadly not much of a cook. Fiona let me know early on she would be taking over in the kitchen,” he adds sheepishly.

I giggle and give him a kiss on the cheek. Jett doesn't let me get away with that, however. He pulls me in for a real kiss, this time angling his head so he can devour me. I'm completely consumed by his kiss, the way his lips move against mine, the feeling of his tongue sliding in and out, circling mine, and pulling a wanton moan from my very core.

“You’re addictive,” he tells me once we break apart. I blush, but I don’t look away. I never want to forget this moment. Whatever the future holds, this, right here, will be a highlight. I’ll cling to this memory forever.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I say with a smirk.

Jett chuckles, the rich sound warming me up from the inside out. “Go put some pants on before I get any more ideas,” he says with a wink.

I turn, giving him my back as I head back to the guest room. I put a little extra sway into my hips, grinning to myself when Jett groans. I think I like being a bit of a tease. I never thought I’d have this, have someone like Jett. As crazy of a dream as it is, I hope I can hang on to him. I selfishly want to keep him forever, but it wouldn’t be fair to drag him into all of my drama.

Still, as I slip on the joggers Jett left for me last night, a spark of hope ignites in my soul. Maybe, just maybe, I’ve found my forever home.